Sanitation in India

I’m sure everyone have seen Vidya Balan’s ‘Jahan Soch Wahan Shauchalaya’ advertisement and many made fun of it. Some on social media and some sitting at home. Even people living in places where they don’t have access to toilets, may also have watched this advertisement. Some would have took it seriously whereas others ignored saying ‘chalta hai’.

We live in a country where getting smartphones, internet and television is easy but getting access to sanitation is still difficult. What is the reason behind this inaccessibility?

As it is said, you can’t clap with hand. Both, citizens and government are responsible for this problem. People living in backward areas are still not aware of the disadvantages of poor sanitation and hygiene. This is why people never complain and government behave lethargically in this matter. Another reason is the cost of providing proper sanitation. But then we must understand improper hygiene and sanitation leads to many diseases and infection which further leads to loss of more financial and human losses. Prevention is always better than cure and investing in sanitation and hygiene facilities is a way of preventing those after effects.

Lack of adequate water supply and sanitation causes sewage to flows directly into streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands which affect coastal and marine ecosystems, foul the environment and expose millions of children to disease.

The Wash Program

So we concluded that Sanitation is important for society as a whole. Now its time for us to take some action. And to help us in this matter TERI University in association with Coca-Cola has launched The WASH Program in India. It is a one of a kind association which has never been done before that will lead to the healthy development of low income settlements in the area.

The WASH Program:

TERI University, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in association with Coca-Cola launched the ‘Strengthening Water and Sanitation in Urban Settings” initiative in short called “The WASH Program” (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). It aims to reach 50,000 beneficiaries in low-income settlements and over 300 professionals through WASH governance studies. It will also reach out to 2,500 students through 20 municipal schools across India.

The Wash Program

That’s all from my side. Let us come together and support ‘The WASH Program’! Let’s make India a Sanitised Country!